Another Republican Rep. Warns Of Eroding Latino Support Following Electoral Defeats: 'Course Correction'

Rep. Carlos Gimenez is also warning Republicans about alienating Latino voters who helped the party win elections last year and put Donald Trump in the White House.

Speaking to NBC News, Gimenez said he'd be "less than honest" if he said "everything's great" after Tuesday's electoral defeats in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia and Cincinnati.

"There are some things that we need to change and have a course correction with in regards to immigration," Gimenez then claimed. "Everybody's in favor of gang members, criminals, et cetera, being deported and all that. Not too many people are in favor of grandmothers and caregivers and all that you know falling under the same umbrella. That's the course correction."

Gimenez's claim is similar to one by fellow Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who warned that the Trump administration's edge with Latinos is "slipping away."

"I've been warning this for months. Hispanics that helped deliver a tremendous victory to President Trump are slipping away, right under our own watch. Last night, in New Jersey and Virginia, Hispanics swung more than 25 points to the LEFT. Those states are swing states only if you bring Hispanics to the GOP. Republicans: wake up. Faith. Family. Freedom. DIGNITY," Salazar said in a social media post, seemingly in reference to the ongoing immigration crackdown that has largely targeted the Latino population in the country.

The results took place shortly after a Unidos Bipartisan Poll of 3,000 registered Latino voters showed that 53% cite cost of living and inflation as their top concern, followed by jobs and the economy (36%), housing (32%) and health care (30%). Immigration reform ranks fifth at 20%.

More than one-third of respondents said the economy has worsened over the past year, compared with 14% who say it has improved, the survey fiound. Nearly two-thirds — 65% — agreed with the premise that President Trump and congressional Republicans were not doing enough to improve economic conditions, and half think the administration's economic policies will leave them personally worse off next year.

The sentiment was also reflected in assessments of Washington: 81% said Congress is failing in its checks-and-balances role, and 62% disapproved of Republicans' leadership in Congress. 61% blame Republicans for the recent government shutdown, compared with 22% who fault Democrats.